Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I can’t do that,” before even trying? It’s one of the most dangerous phrases in the human vocabulary. It’s subtle. It sounds harmless. But it stops growth dead in its tracks. That sentence is the mental brick wall between who you are and who you’re meant to become.

Let me tell you a story about a man I once knew….let’s call him Joe.

Joe was a quiet, average guy who worked maintenance at a local school. For 20 years, he fixed toilets, changed lightbulbs, and stayed out of the spotlight. He once told me, “I’m not smart enough to lead anything. I just do what needs to be done.” He truly believed he had nothing special to offer beyond a wrench and a plunger.

But something changed the day a student collapsed in the hallway.

Joe was the first one there. Calm, focused, and without hesitation, he began CPR. Staff froze. Students panicked. But Joe? Joe didn’t think, he did. He saved that young man’s life.

After the ambulance left, I found Joe sitting alone. He looked shaken, not by what happened but by what he had done. He whispered, “I didn’t know I could do that.”

That’s the moment that haunts and inspires me.

You see, it wasn’t just CPR that Joe performed. He shattered a belief system. For two decades, he’d lived under the weight of “I can’t.” But when the moment called for action, his potential roared louder than his doubt.

Every single day, people walk around with Joe’s mindset. They dismiss their ideas. They disqualify themselves from opportunities. They underestimate their own value. All because of a lie they keep repeating in their head.

Here’s the truth: You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to be willing to show up.

Stop saying you can’t before life gives you the chance to prove you can.

Because chances are, you already have everything it takes. You’re just waiting for a hallway moment to remind you.

Random Act of Kindness: Tell someone today what they’re capable of. Help them break their “I can’t” mindset. You never know what life they might save. including their own.

Michael Pellegrino
Founder
Resilient Minds On The Front Lines, Inc.